Okay? Isn't that still applicable today - why do you make it sound like this was written only for those historical jews to believe and not for us today? Just because we have added revelations to our understanding of Christ's death and resurrection which we need to believe in, it doesn't take away the fact that we also do affirm He is the Son of God, as written in the Scriptures. It's not either-or, right? Do you not preach He is the Son of God as part of your Gospel message today?
Heb 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
This verse talks about Melchisedec and asks to "consider" how great he was - this can at best be only a mental 'observing' and never a physical 'observing', right? It is in this same sense that even today we preach the Gospel exhorting people to consider how great the Son of God is and to accordingly believe in all that He has done and promises to do - that's Jn 6:40 applicable even today, what is your argument here?
Thank you ivdavid for these questions. I will try to answer them.
Seven years passed after the resurrection and ascension to heaven of Jesus Christ before the first gentile was preached to and saved. It ws only then that God opened the door of faith to gentiles. You may read about this in Acts 1-10. It was only after the Jews in Jerusalem persecuted and killed the preachers of Jesus Christ that he saved Saul on the Damascus Road and charged him as the one who would take the gospel to the nations.The theology of all this is explained in Romans 7-11 but this transition that takes place in Acts 10 with Peter and Cornelius, the Roman, being the main characters is explained in Rom 11:beginning at verse 13. There is an order to the scriptures and God really did have a plan. Satanic opposition and unbelief of men delayed it but it did not thwart it. It gave a wonderful opportunity for the gentiles and created a way for God to demonstrate his infinite wisdom.
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise (The Spirit) in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which
from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that
now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,(IOW, the church puts the wisdom of God on display for heavenly creatures)
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
The purpose was having an entity that was both in him and him in them. He intended that for Israel but they refused and he grafted in the gentiles after stripping the unbelievers away. However, he makes it clear that it does not void the national promises he has covenanted to Israel. They will come to pass in the next age.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for
thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, an
d these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
This was prayed on the eve of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He is praying for those who came to him believing what he was asking them to believe in John 6, that he was sent from God.
For answer to the next question, see my post to the Archangel.